By John Okello Lapok
Vice President Maj. Jessica Alupo has closed the Four-day 7th Regional Ministerial Forum on Migration which brought together delegates from 11 member states to deliberate on issues of harmonising labour migration policies across Africa.
The meeting focused on promoting safe, orderly, and regular labour migration, with officials emphasising the need to strengthen frameworks that support skills mobility and protection of migrant workers.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, VP Alupo said Government is committed to combatting irregular migration in all its forms and Trafficking in Persons.
“We have established support systems for Ugandan migrant workers in distress and efforts are underway, with support from development partners to establish a safe return and reintegration program,” she said as she represented President Museveni at the conference organized under the theme, “Expanding Regular Labour Migration Channels to Promote Skills Mobility, Decent Employment, and Safe Alternatives to Irregular Migration”.
She stressed that the theme demonstrates a shared priority for dynamic labour mobility driven by a growing workforce.
She added that by working together to improve skills matching, strengthening recruitment systems, and enhancing cooperation with destination countries, members can build migration systems that are fair, predictable, and beneficial for migrants, their families, and the countries’ economies.
“Most importantly, the issue of providing consular support to migrant workers is not negotiable and I call upon Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Member States to take on frontline roles on matters of migrant workers” she said.
The Vice President also Katakwi Woman MP, said Uganda is strongly committed to international cooperation and regional integration which are considered central to the country’s foreign policy, development, and economic transformation.
“Uganda’s foreign policy is anchored on peaceful coexistence, non-alignment, and regional security. Worth noting is that Uganda operates one of the world’s most progressive, open-door refugee policies, allowing refugees freedom of movement, the right to work, and land for farming. Refugees access public services, including healthcare and primary education, on par with Ugandan nationals. As of February 2026, Uganda hosts 1.98 million refugees and asylum seekers, making it the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa” she said.
Alupo said Uganda is formally committed to creating decent jobs, aiming to address high youth unemployment and underemployment through the National Employment Strategy (NES) 2023-2028 and the Third Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP III) 2025/26-2029/30. The Government, guided by Vision 2040 and National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), aims to create 4.4 million new jobs with an annual average of 884,962 2.5 jobs over five years by fostering sustainable industrialization and promoting private sector growth.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Esther Anyakun, said the forum has provided a critical platform for member states to align policies that respond to emerging labour market demands while safeguarding the rights of migrant workers.
She said labour migration, if well managed, can significantly contribute to economic growth, reduce unemployment, and deepen regional integration.
The Acting Director of Health and Social Development of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), H.E Ambassador Moussa Meigague reiterated the importance of regional cooperation in addressing migration challenges, highlighting the need for data sharing, joint policy frameworks, and capacity building among member states.
